Helpline 138 Logged Over 39,000 Calls In Its First Year
39,000 calls have been received by Helpline 138 in its first year which connected citizens with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA).
The construction site safety helpline was launched for those who have difficulty or wish to report any abuse or concerns they have about buildings and construction sites. The number 138 was chosen as a tribute to one of Malta’s youngest victims in the industry, Jean Paul Sofia.
“We are marking the first anniversary of Helpline 138, a centralised 24/7 service that has become a vital reference point for all issues related to construction, health, and safety. Over the past year, the service received 39,171 calls; an average of 107 calls per day reflecting its crucial role in protecting workers and the public,” said Minister for Justice and Construction Sector Reform, Jonathan Attard.
He went on to say that this initiative, launched as part of broader reforms, demonstrates our firm commitment to improving standards in the construction sector. We will continue to develop this service to ensure it remains proactive, effective, and a symbol of our mission to protect lives and strengthen accountability on every construction site.
The volume of calls also demonstrated how the public and OHSA and BCA were becoming more involved through this centralised helpline. Out of all the calls that were received, 30,804 were routed to BCA and 8,367 to OHSA.
“The strong public response is the result of the initiatives and reforms we have carried out in recent months. The launch of the helpline was just the beginning. We followed it with an educational campaign to further inform the public about the services we have continued to introduce following it’s launch,” said OHSA Chief Executive Josianne Cutajar.
She went on to mention that the authority recently opened a new hub in Gozo, implemented new rules pertaining to construction site health and safety, and carried on with worker health and safety awareness initiatives, especially with regard to extreme heat. In comparison to other years, there has also been a notable rise in the quantity of inspections.
Cutajar noted how the 138 helpline can be a vital tool in saving lives and invited the public to use it and to contact the authorities, even anonymously, to report relevant information including the location details so that OHSA can respond to the situation.
Perit Bonnici also mentioned how for the first time, contractors are being held accountable based on their area of work, namely Demolition, Excavation and Construction.
He went on to say that as more initiatives and reforms are being implemented, the authorities are working to introduce Skill Cards to promote a stronger culture of responsibility and professionalism.
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